Being a musician is difficult. You spend hours and hours practicing, and even more hours playing shows. Sometimes, you’ll hit a streak of amazing shows and build up a fanbase. Other times, you might have to battle through a series of shows that are less than stellar. Regardless, playing shows is a part of being a musician. If you’re not careful, performing can take a serious toll on your body.
The key to being a road warrior is to be safe and to take care of your body. However, that’s easier said than done. Between being pushed to the limit on a regular basis and the demands of playing shows, it’s not always easy to take care of yourself. This article is full of tips on how to road wear a guitar. If you’re okay with enduring some pain and looking after your body, read on to learn how to road wear a guitar.
You may also look at our other article on How to carry guitar on back
Wear Comfortable Shoes
It might seem like an obvious tip, but one of the most important things you can do for your body is to wear comfortable shoes. Most people don’t give their feet enough credit. When you’re standing on stage, it’s not always easy to keep your feet from hurting. With the hours of standing and walking, the last thing you want is for your shoes to cause discomfort and pain.
The best way to know what kind of shoes are appropriate for playing a show is to see what other musicians are wearing or looking at reviews online. If there are any other musicians in the area where you’re playing, ask them what kind of shoe they use and how they feel about it. The same goes for reading reviews online; by reading what other people say about a particular shoe, you get an idea of whether or not that shoe is the right one for you.
Your feet will thank you later when they aren’t unnecessarily in pain because of your outfit choice!
Bring a Neck Pillow
When you travel, your neck can take a beating. Between sitting in the same position for hours on end to looking up at the sky in a seated position, your neck muscles can become tense. These pain points will only get worse when you’re performing. If you feel any tension in your neck muscles, try using a neck pillow to relieve it.
The best thing about these pillows is that they don’t cost very much and they can be brought anywhere. Even if you struggle with chronic migraines or back pain, these pillows are useful as they provide support while keeping your head aligned with your spine.
Eat Healthy
Eating healthy is hard and can be time-consuming. However, it’s worth the effort. One of the most important aspects of taking care of your body is eating well. You need to consume the right nutrients to maintain your energy levels and avoid getting sick.
One way to eat healthy is to try intermittent fasting. It’s a popular trend among musicians and celebrities for a reason- when you fast, you are able to lose weight, reduce inflammation in your body, and increase mental clarity.
Another way to eat healthy is by incorporating more leafy greens into your diet. These vegetables provide a lot of nutrients that will help you maintain energy levels while playing shows or practicing often. Greens also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with joint pain.
Finally, try eating foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids like salmon and walnuts. They are great sources of protein and help keep inflammation down so you don’t feel sore after a show or after an intense practice session.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. You might think that drinking water will help you lose weight or improve your skin, but it also helps your body recover from physical strain. If you’re not drinking enough water before and after a show, you might find yourself feeling fatigued and lethargic. The best way to stay hydrated is by keeping a bottle of water with you at all times and drinking it whenever possible. You can also keep fruit or veggies on hand to eat during the show to get some extra natural sugar in your system.
Exercise Before a Show
You might be tempted to skip a workout before a show, but it’s beneficial. It’ll help you feel less stiff and more energized. A workout will also give you the opportunity to stretch out and make sure your body is loose and limber. You don’t want to go on stage feeling stiff or tight.
If you need some motivation to get through your workout, put on your favorite music! Lead by example: if you tell your band members they need to work out before shows, they will be more likely to listen.
Don’t Overdo It Afterword
One of the most common mistakes many musicians make after playing a show is not taking care of themselves. Musicians are often so exhausted that they collapse in their beds, only to do it all over again the next day. The first step to being a road warrior is to make sure that you have enough energy at the end of the night. A simple way to do this is by making sure you drink plenty of water before and after shows.
Drinking water will help keep your body hydrated and boost your energy levels. It sounds like a no-brainer, but many musicians forget about staying hydrated when they’re exhausted. It’s also important to eat before and after performances. This will help fuel your body for another performance and can also help reduce soreness from playing guitar all night long.
Wrap It Up
There are countless ways to make your guitar easier to play. Wrapping it up, you’re going to want to invest in a quality strap and get some hand relief cream. You should also invest in a guitar case that is durable and can withstand the everyday wear and tear. Additionally, you can try out different brands of strings, experiment with amp settings, or use new pedals.
Take Breaks
One of the most important things to remember when you’re on the road is to take breaks. When you have a break from playing, your body has time to recover and rest. If you don’t take breaks, your body will simply shut down. Musicians work incredibly hard and it can be easy for them to forget to stop for a moment when they are on tour. But if you don’t take breaks, you risk developing severe symptoms such as tinnitus or carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s not worth it!
Generally, musicians should take 10-minute breaks every hour or every 30 minutes if they feel like they are getting lightheaded or dizzy while playing their instrument.
Don’t Forget to Relax
One of the most important things you can do to maintain your health while on tour is to take time to relax. Musicians are always told that they need to practice, but sometimes it can be easy to forget about taking time off.
It’s important not to just walk around in a constant state of mental focus and physical tension. You should give your body some time off. If you don’t, you could end up in even worse shape than before you started touring. This is especially important for people who play instruments like drums or guitar, where repetitive motion is required.
Taking time off doesn’t mean sitting around all day scrolling through social media and watching TV. Instead, find ways to relax that don’t interfere with your daily life. Take a bath, read a book, go for a jog – there are many options for how you can unwind without taking hours out of your day.
How to road wear a guitar FAQS
While the answer is debatable, yes it is safe for musicians to wear guitar straps. Guitar straps are designed to be worn by musicians and are not unsafe. The only thing that you might want to avoid is wearing the strap too tight so that it might cause numbness or tingling in your fingers. You also want to make sure that when you attach a strap, you don’t pull it too tightly on your body. That being said, although some people find guitar straps uncomfortable, most people say they can easily get used to them after a few hours of playing.
Shoulder straps have various benefits for musicians. They provide support and stability for the neck, back and shoulders when carrying instruments over extended periods of time. They also offer relief from head and neck fatigue and alleviate stress on the spine while providing extra padding at the back of your neck.
Before playing, always make sure your hands are clean and dry before applying chalk or rosin. When applying rosin on your strings, use a light touch starting from the base string and slowly making your way up. Also make sure that you’re using appropriate strings for your instrument – this will help ensure that you’re able to play with optimum speed without hurting yourself or damaging your fingers!
Conclusion
A lot of work goes into being a musician and being a musician on the road. There are many tips, tricks and pieces of advice out there to help you stay healthy on tour. Use these 10 tips to keep your guitar road wear ready.
1. Wear comfortable shoes
2. Bring a neck pillow
3. Eat healthy
4. Stay hydrated
5. Exercise before a show
6. Don’t overdo it afterward
7. Wrap it up
8. Take breaks
9. Don’t forget to relax
